Christchurch Priory

The approach to the town of Christchurch from the west is rather dismal. Nevertheless, once in the High Street one is soon encouraged by glimpses of the great tower of the Priory. However it is not until entering the churchyard that the enormous size of the building becomes obvious. The great west tower of 1490 and the huge C14 porch, where the prior met the civic dignitaries, dominate the view.

CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY is said to be the longest, at 310', parish church in the country and it is certainly one of the grandest and most interesting. The exterior of the 12th Century North transept is an astonishing piece of decoration. The huge North porch, of the 13th Century, provides as impressive an entrance as can be imagined and leads into the three-storey Norman nave, the vault of which is actually of plaster, added by Garbett, who did much work at Winchester Cathedral, in 1819. The 13th Century provided the clerestory and the aisles so the nave represents a long running building campaign. The crossing, probably originally supporting a tower, and transepts are also fine Norman work but passing through the remains of a once-splendid 15th Century screen one finds oneself in the Great Quire which, with the Lady Chapel, further East still, dates from the early part of the 16th Century; apart from Bath Abbey and the Henry VII chapel at Westminster Abbey it is one of the last major contributions of monastic building before the Dissolution. The vault is a splendid lierne with pendants running down the sides, a motif repeated in the ornate Lady Chapel, almost a separate building. From a little earlier is the West tower, big and tall but almost dwarfed by the great length of the church.

There are very many treasures, the greatest of which is undoubtedly the magnificent 14th Century Jesse screen behind the high altar. Even though many of the figures have gone one can appreciate the power of the reclining Jesse, flanked by David and Solomon, in the bottom stage; in the next the solemn adoration in the face of a kneeling king presenting his offering to the Christ child; and in the upper stages the exuberant portrayal of the ox and ass, the shepherds with their dog, the sheep on the hill and the angel choir above. Beside it is the huge and jewel-like chantry, never used for its purpose, of the Countess of Salisbury, who was beheaded on Tower Green on the orders of Henry VIII - she was connected with all the families who had a better claim on the throne than the 'upstart' Tudors. The woodwork, including magnificent misericords, in the Quire and the stonework in the Lady Chapel are of the highest quality.

A day is needed even to begin to appreciate the glories of this wonderful building.

At over 311ft (94.88 metres) it is the longest parish church in England and a great deal longer than several cathedrals. The building was commenced in 1094 when a Saxon church was demolished to make way for it. It was planned by Ranulf Flambard, a colourful character, who was dean of St Paul's Cathedral, London, and an important functionary at the court of King William II (Rufus 1087-1100), the third son of the Conqueror. Unfortunately, when Rufus was killed in a riding accident, Flambard fell from the favour of King Henry I and was banished. In due course, he returned and was responsible for starting to build Durham Cathedral. If he had stayed, perhaps the whole building would have been completed in the Norman style, whereas his contribution was limited to just the nave (below the clerestory, which was added later) and the crossing. By 1150 the initial church was complete with an apse at the east end and cruciform in shape. Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester and brother of King Stephen (1135-1154) persuaded the Pope to set up a community of Augustine monks and create the whole building infrastructure for a major monastery. With the High Altar dedicated to Christ the Saviour, it is not surprising that the town became known as 'Christchurch'.

In 1290, a clerestory was built above the triforium and the roof dramatically raised, which greatly improved the nave illumination. During this work, a legend arose that an exceptionally skilled carpenter worked on the massive wooden beams used in the roof, but was never present at meals, nor seen receiving his pay. Eventually, amid much distress, there was a crisis because one of the beams had been mistakenly cut one foot too short. The next morning, miraculously, not only was the beam the correct length, but it had been placed in exactly the right position. The carpenter was never seen again and it was universally accepted that he must have been the Christ. The beam can still be seen high up on the southern side at the rear of the Lady Chapel.